Here’s the press release in response to this story that the Journal Star broke yesterday:

Date: February 21, 2008
Released by: Alma Brown, Communications Manager, 494-8554
Subject: RELEASE OF PERSONAL DATA

The City of Peoria sincerely regrets the release of some employees’ personal information. Once this error was discovered, our Human Resources Department took immediate steps to retrieve the information released pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request. Despite several attempts, and the recopying of the response with all personal information deleted, the documents have not been returned to the City. We continue to explore every constructive approach possible for the return of the information released in error.

The ransomware definition says that is a type of malware(malicious software that involves holding the victim’s information at ransom.

Employees who have been impacted by the release have been notified by the City of Peoria Legal Department. This notification permits employees to take any steps they believe appropriate with regard to their personal information.

Additional safeguards have been instituted to ensure that this situation does not repeat itself. The City of Peoria values all of its employees and their dedication to public service. We will remain conscientious in our efforts to provide a safe and secure working environment.

Any questions should be directed to Kimberly King, Senior Staff Attorney/Acting Human Resources Director at (309) 494-8590.

Here’s the “he-said-she-said” part of the press release: “Despite several attempts, and the recopying of the response with all personal information deleted, the documents have not been returned to the City.” The person who has the information simply filed a Freedom of Information Act request to support her claim that she should get her tuition reimbursed. The city messed up by giving her too much information. In the Journal Star article today, she says:

“I took out student loans that I expected I would be paying back with my tuition reimbursement (from the city). Now, here I am, a single mom with two kids and thousands of dollars in unpaid student loans,” she said Wednesday.

Though she never asked for the personal information, doesn’t want it and even took pains to let the city know they mistakenly released it, she hasn’t returned it yet because some of it is on the same pages with the information she needs to defend her case. That case, she adds, is stalled for some reason.

Once it’s resolved, she said she will happily return everything.

So the city says they gave her the info with all the confidential personal info redacted, but she says she doesn’t have all the info needed to defend her case. So… looks like the city is in a pickle, and they’re trying to redirect anger from their screw-up to this woman who wants to get her tuition reimbursed.

I don’t know who’s right, but I do know that it wouldn’t be an issue if the city hadn’t messed up and given out personal data. They have no one to blame but themselves.